croton oil

American  

noun

1. a brownish-yellow oil, expressed from the seeds of the croton, Croton tiglium, that is a drastic purgative and counterirritant.

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croton oil British  

noun

1. a yellowish-brown oil obtained from the plant Croton tiglium, formerly used as a drastic purgative See also croton

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Etymology

Origin of croton oil

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

croton oil

This was a hardy sexagenarian named George Heis, for whom the only consequences of a late evening snack of beer, pancakes, spinach, arsenic and croton oil, prepared by Mrs. Hahn, was partial paralysis and indigestion.

From Time Magazine Archive

Despite the pharmacopoeial liniment and the practice of a few, it may be said that this employment of croton oil is now entirely without justification or excuse.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

The bowels should be thoroughly opened by calomel, croton oil, or Henry's solution, and a light milk diet given.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

Thus, we will say, for example, 1 was jalap; 2, calomel; 3, croton oil; and 4, quinine.

From West African studies by Kingsley, Mary Henrietta

Two or three drops of the croton oil should be injected twice or thrice in the day, until the bowels are thoroughly opened.

From The Dog by Youatt, William